2019 NF-POGO-IEO Shipboard Training Fellowship onboard RADIALES cruise

General Information

21 Nov 2019 to 13 Dec 2019

Scientific objective: The main objective is to examine the relationship between the molecular composition of Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) and the diversity and activity of microorganisms in the coastal upwelling system of the NW of the Iberian Peninsula.

1) Study the effect of DOM diversity on the microbial activity in the upwelling system of the NW of the Iberian Peninsula at different spatial and monthly scales.

2) Study the effect of DOM diversity on the microbial diversity in the upwelling system of the NW of the Iberian Peninsula at different spatial and monthly scales.

Cruise programme: The RADIALES program (http://www.seriestemporales-ieo.com/) has been conducting research cruises at approximately monthly intervals since the 1990s (Casas et al. 1997, 1999, Bode et al. 2012) with the objective of monthly monitoring the oceanographic conditions and the plankton of the Atlantic coast of the north of Spain. For this proposal we will collect samples on board B/O Margalef in the Radial of Santander (several station located in the transect 3º 47.0 W), Gijón (several stations located in the transect 5º 32.8 W), Cudillero (several stations located in the transect 6º 08.0 W), A Coruña (core Station 2, 8.5 ºN; 8º 57.5'W), Vigo (core Station 3 43°25.3'N;8°26.2'W) located in the north coast of the Iberian Peninsula and with ≈100-400 m depth. An overview of the time series of this station can be found at http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/copepod/time-series/es-50102).

Priority areas

The sampling will be carried out following the methods already implemented within the project RADIALES (Bode et al. 2012). Plankton and water samples will be collected following the regular RADIALES sampling scheme at up to 7 discrete depth levels between the surface and 100 m depth. The RADIALES project will provide measurements of temperature, salinity, dissolved inorganic nutrients, particulate and dissolved organic C and N, and chlorophyll concentrations, as well as un-fractionated primary production (e.g. Casas et al. 1997; Bode et al. 2004).

 

The specific work to be carried out by the training proposed will include measures of abundance, biomass, taxonomic composition and activity of prokaryotic microbial populations, in combination with the characterization of dissolved organic matter. For this task, samples of seawater from the different depths will be taken in duplicate by using an oceanographic rosette coupled with a SeaBird911 CTD and the following activities will be carried out:

 

- Prokaryotic abundance by flow cytometry

- Taxonomic composition by next-generation sequencing techniques (Illumina Miseq.)

- Prokaryotic activity by 3H-Leucine incorporation

- Elemental and optical properties of DOM by fluorescence excitation-emission matrices

- Molecular characterization of DOM by ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS)

 

Before the cruise, the fellow will be instructed on the correct analyses and measurements to be taken for the specific activities that will be performed during the cruise.

After the cruise the fellow will work with the Planktonic and Biogeochemical Ecology Research Group to determine the measurements previously mentioned and analyze the results.

What is offered

The training will take place on two RADIALES monthly sampling cruises between Gijón, Spain, and Vigo, Spain, during the periods 21 - 29 November and 01 - 13 December 2019, respectively. The fellow will receive additional training at IEO one month prior to the cruise (21 October to 20 November 2019) to participate in the cruise preparations, become familiar with the analytical techniques and equipment, and one month after the cruise (14 December 2019 to 13 January 2020) to analyse samples, process and analyse the data and interpret the results.

Application

How to apply

Applications are closed for this fellowship.

Review process

Applications are closed for this fellowship.

Terms